Banks: 09:30 to 16:00, Monday to Friday; 09:30 to 11:30, Saturdays
Government Offices: 08:30 to 16:30, Monday to Friday
Department Stores and Shops: 10:00 to 22:00, daily
Business Offices: 09:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday; 09:00 to 13:00, Saturdays

Penang is generally considered a safe travel destination and crimes against tourists are uncommon. There are incidents of petty crime however, particularly in areas that are popular with tourists and at major transportation centres including the airport and bus terminals. Purse-snatching and pick-pocketing are the most frequently-reported occurrences.

It’s recommended that you exercise normal safety precautions such as avoiding walking alone after dark and keeping valuable items concealed. It’s also recommended that you use your hotel safe to store important travel documents, large amounts of cash and expensive jewellery.

Electricity: 220 volts, 50Hz; both round and square three-pin plugs are in use.

There is no requirement that visitors must show proof of vaccinations when entering the country. There are no diseases prevalent which currently constitute a cause for concern. Tap water is considered safe to drink, but some visitors prefer to boil or otherwise purify water before drinking it, or to drink bottled water. Although foods seldom pose problems, it is wise to peel raw fruits or vegetables before eating them and to avoid improperly cooked seafood, to prevent any serious gastrointestinal problems.

The healthcare system in Penang is widely perceived to be of a good standard. Small communities typically have clinics operating instead of public hospitals and private clinics and hospitals provide an alternative, often with better equipment and facilities.

Ambulance: 999 and 112
Police: 999

A number of languages are spoken in Penang, with Malay (Bahasa Melayu) being the official language of the country. Languages commonly spoken include English, Hokkien, Malay, Mandarin and Tamil. English is the language typically used in business and the tourist industry. Other Chinese dialects that are spoken include Cantonese and Tamil.

Penang’s currency is the Malaysian ringgit, which is abbreviated as RM. One ringgit is equivalent to 100 sen. You will see banknotes in denominations of RM100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 2. Coins are in circulation in the following denominations: RM1; and 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1 sen. Banks and authorised moneychangers will exchange major foreign currencies and travellers cheques for ringgits.

Foreign currencies are not typically accepted for purchases in Penang, although Singapore dollars are sometimes accepted at unfavourable rates of exchange. Licensed moneychangers located in shopping malls and the city centre usually offer the best rates of exchange. Airports and banks offer exchange services, but the rates are less favourable. ATMs are available in cities, but are not widely available outside the centre. Credit cards are accepted at most hotels, shops and restaurants.

Goods that may be imported into Penang duty-free include 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars, 1 bottle of liquor and perfume for personal use. You may also bring in a reasonable number of gifts and amount of film for your personal camera. Foreign currency in an amount greater than US$10,000 must be declared on arrival. Prohibited items include endangered animals and plants, firearms and narcotics.

Islamic practices are followed in Penang, although not as rigorously as in other parts of Malaysia. Visitors should exercise common courtesy and avoid extremes in both dress and behaviour, showing respect for religious and social customs to avoid causing offence. Except for time spent at the beach, tourists should dress conservatively, avoiding revealing clothing. Women should note that topless sunbathing is not only against Islamic tradition, but the law too.

In Islam, physical contact between persons of the opposite sex is discouraged. A non-Muslim should not be offended if their offer of a handshake is not reciprocated by a member of the opposite sex. Before you enter a house of worship or someone’s home you should remove your shoes. It’s also important that you never point at someone with your forefinger or the soles of your feet, or touch anyone's head.

Public shows of affection are tolerated in population centres and tourist areas, but might attract unwanted attention. In more rural areas, this type of display should be avoided. Same-sex relationships are taboo under Islamic law, so gay and lesbian visitors should avoid holding hands or showing affection in public.

Dining Etiquette
It’s common practice in both Indian and Malay communities to eat using the fingers of the right hand rather than use cutlery. Note that it is the right hand that is used and not the left, as the left hand is typically used for personal hygiene. Hands are always washed before meals. Generally, a kettle of water for hand-washing is placed on the dining table for use during the meal in Malay homes and at restaurants.

During Ramadan, Muslims fast from sunrise to sundown for a month. No eating, drinking or smoking is permitted during daylight hours. It is expected that visitors would also refrain from public eating and drinking during this time. You’ll find that most restaurants are closed until the evening. At the end of each day’s fast, the towns and cities come to life, with restaurants opening up and serving massive spreads of special foods to large crowds.

Visitors of all nationalities who enter Malaysia must be in possession of a passport that is valid for at least six months after their date of entry into the country. Those foreign nationals who require a visa to enter the country must make an application at a Malaysian consulate or embassy in advance of arrival.

Nationals of most Commonwealth countries do not require visas, with the exception of the following countries: Bangladesh, India, Nigeria, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Nationals of the Republic of Ireland, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands, San Marino and Switzerland also do not require visas.

For stays of up to three months, nationals of the following countries do not require visas in advance: Algeria, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Morocco, Norway, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Republic of Korea, Sweden, Tunisia, Turkey, UAE, USA and Yemen.

Tourist information offices provide a number of services for visitors, such as directions and maps, information on area attractions and accommodation, and details on other tourist destinations in Malaysia. In Penang you’ll find tourist information centres at the airport and in Georgetown. The tourist information office at Penang International Airport can be reached by calling: +60 4 643 0501. Alternatively the office in the centre of Georgetown can be found at 10 Jalan Tun Syed Sheh, Barakbah (phone: +60 4 262 0066; website: http://www.tourism.gov.my)